Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Green Arrows of the World Meet the Battling Bowmen

The manner in which the combined Green Arrows of the World were able to capture Limehouse Larkin, who had impersonated the Bowman of Britain, was by using their various techniques to slow him down long enough to be cornered by the original Arrow and his sidekick Speedy.

We've already been introduced to the Bowman of Britain and the Phantom of France, and their Earth-Two cosmic twins the Bow Master of Britain and the Third Archer of France. What of the other members of this one-shot team?

We're introduced to Earth-One's Ace Archer of Japan, with his speciality jiu-jitsu arrow and the Bowman of the Bush (of Malaya), with his niche a vine arrow. Also in attendance are the Green Arrows of Mexico, Switzerland and evidently others from Saudi Arabia and Spain though they stay in the background of this tale.

Turns out the Earth-Two had still other archers, in fact ones that preceded the Battling Bowmen, whom they stumble on through a freak accident. After noticing the clothing of an Earl of Charleville and his son Armond reminiscent of their own heroic garb, Green Arrow and Speedy race to a costume ball to protect valuable jewelry there from theft. In route, a bolt of lightning sends the pair back into 15th century Ponsoc, France where they encounter the Masked Archers. When they discover they are in reality the Earl and Armond, Green Arrow and Speedy impersonate the pair to belay suspicion by the evil Black Duke and his men as to the true identity of the ancient Archers. After returning to the 20th century through a similar means, they note wording on an old plaque crediting the adventure to the "Green Arrow" in French!